Why would we believe them? Meat consumers’ reactions to online farm animal welfare activism in Australia

Buddle, Emily A.; Bray, Heather J.; Ankeny, Rachel A.

doi:10.1080/22041451.2018.1451209

Cited by 23 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 50 publications

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“…The activist organisation Animals Australia has been at the forefront of broadcasting moments of “extreme cruelty experienced by these animals in their last moments” in both domestic and overseas abattoirs with such footage described as “effective enough in mobilising Australians for abattoirs to be shut down…and the installation of surveillance cameras in abattoirs” [ 17 ] (p. 45), as well as the suspension of live export trade [ 28 ]. Despite evidence which suggests that Australian meat consumers typically ignore animal welfare activism, particularly when it is online [ 38 ], it is clear that animal welfare activism has played a significant role in raising general awareness and communicating to the public about intensive animal agriculture and the live export controversy.…”

Section: Discussion: Why Is Transport So Problematic?mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This approach strengthens our abilities to generalise, for example across populations and to other locations. However, this approach does not seek to generate statistically significant data or strict representativeness, due to the qualitative nature of the research methods utilised [ 37 , 38 ], which put greater emphasis on what participants say rather than how many participants made one particular claim.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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“I Feel Sorry for Them”: Australian Meat Consumers’ Perceptions about Sheep and Beef Cattle Transportation

Buddle¹,

Bray²,

Ankeny³

2018

Animals

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Simple SummaryUnderstanding what concerns about animal welfare are most prominent among members of the public is critical to improve processes in the meat production industry. Hence, this study uses qualitative data to explore how Australian meat consumers viewed one aspect of the production process, livestock transportation. Participants in this study were concerned about the close packing of animals into trucks and ships, and their experiences during long-distance voyages; their views on this topic may be motivated by genuine concerns about animal welfare, together with anthropomorphic tendencies to project human feelings onto these animal experiences and emotional responses, due to transport being associated with slaughter. Given the importance of transport to the Australia red-meat production industry, we argue that public views should be considered as the sector modifies its practices; in addition, higher levels of transparency and communication about practices associated with good animal welfare are needed.AbstractConcern for livestock welfare is significantly increasing in many parts of the world. One area of concern is the transportation of livestock. Using qualitative research methods, this research explores the concerns of Australian meat consumers related to livestock transportation practices, both on land by truck and on sea by ship. Participants were predominantly concerned about animals being “crammed” into trucks and ships, and the long distances over which livestock were transported. Likely contributors to these reactions are the high visibility of truck transport in urban areas, and recent media and political attention to the live-export issue in Australia. We argue that participants’ concerns about transport are arising for a variety of reasons, including anthropomorphic tendencies, genuine concern for the welfare of farm animals, and emotional responses related to the discomfort experienced by meat consumers when they are reminded of the meat-animal connection. Given the importance of transport to the red-meat production industry, these results suggest that the sector may need to reconsider some of their practices and increase transparency and communication about the practices, which they utilise to ensure good animal welfare.

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Section: Discussion: Why Is Transport So Problematic?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“I Feel Sorry for Them”: Australian Meat Consumers’ Perceptions about Sheep and Beef Cattle Transportation

Buddle¹,

Bray²,

Ankeny³

2018

Animals

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“…Although these messages may be appealing to a meat-eater who is seeking justification for their behaviour, none of them actually represent an argument against the ideas underpinning veganism. Rather, the media rely on readers accepting these presentations uncritically, and it seems that most meat-eaters are happy to do this because it serves their interests (Buddle, Bray & Ankeny, 2018). Cole and Morgan (2011) show how the media covers veganism in a way which caters to audiences' confirmation bias.…”

Section: Confirmation Biasmentioning

confidence: 99%

Going veggie: Identifying and overcoming the social and psychological barriers to veganism

2022

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We conceptualize the journey to ethical veganism in the stages of the transtheoretical model of change, from precontemplation through contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance. At each stage, we explore the psychological barriers to progressing towards veganism, discuss how they manifest, and explore ways to overcome them. It is hoped that this paper can be used as a guide for animal advocates to identify the stage an individual is at, and understand and overcome the social and psychological barriers they may face to progressing. We argue that, while many people are ignorant of the cruel practices entailed in animal farming, many deliberately avoid thinking about the issue, are unable to appreciate the scale of the issue, and simply tend to favour the status quo. When engaging with the issue of farm animal suffering, meat-eaters are largely driven by cognitive dissonance, which manifests as motivated reasoning aimed at protecting one's image of oneself and one's society. This is facilitated by confirmation bias and complicit media which cater to the preferred views of their meat-eating audience. Even once convinced of veganism, habit and willpower present further barriers to acting on those beliefs. This is all in the context of a speciesist and carnistic culture where meat consumption is normal, farming is noble, and vegans are 'others'. We locate and elucidate each of these biases within the stages of the transtheoretical model and discuss the implications of this model for animal advocates and for further research.

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“…165,166 Furthermore, meat reduction has frequently been framed as extremist, associated with the 'vegan agenda, ' by many individuals and interest groups, including the meat industry. 167,168 As described earlier, the Commission proposes a package of food systems policy interventions to achieve its ambitious dietary targets. These include international and governmental support to regulate trade, removing farming and agricultural subsidies, attenuating livestock production, strengthening governance around environmental resources, and targeting consumer behaviour change.…”

Section: Instrumental Powermentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding the Political Challenge of Red and Processed Meat Reduction for Healthy and Sustainable Food Systems: A Narrative Review of the Literature

Sievert

Lawrence

Parker

et al. 2020

Int J Health Policy Manag

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Background: Diets high in red and processed meat (RPM) contribute substantially to environmental degradation, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and the global burden of chronic disease. Recent high-profile reports from international expert bodies have called for a significant reduction in global dietary meat intake, particularly RPM, especially in high-income settings, while acknowledging the importance of animal-sourced foods to population nutrition in many lower-income countries. However, this presents a major yet under-investigated political challenge given strong cultural preferences for meat and the economic importance and power of the meat industry. Methods: A theoretically-guided narrative review was undertaken. The theoretical framework used to guide the review considered the interests, ideas and institutions that constitute food systems in relation to meat reduction; and the instrumental, discursive and structural forms of power that actors deploy in relation to others within the food system. Results: High production and consumption levels of RPM are promoted and sustained by a number of factors. Actors with an interest in RPM included business and industry groups, governments, intergovernmental organisations, and civil society. Asymmetries of power between these actors exist, with institutional barriers recognised in the form of government-industry dependence, trade agreement conflicts, and policy incoherence. Industry lobbying, shaping of evidence and knowledge, and highly concentrated markets are key issues. Furthermore, prevailing ideologies like carnism and neoliberalism present embedded difficulties for RPM reduction. The literature noted the power of actors to resist meat reduction efforts exists in varying forms, including the use of lobbying, shaping of evidence and knowledge, and highly concentrated markets. Conclusion: There are a number of political challenges related to RPM reduction that contribute to policy inertia, and hence are likely to impede the transformation of food systems. Research on policy efforts to reduce RPM production and consumption should incorporate the role of power and political feasibility.

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Why would we believe them? Meat consumers’ reactions to online farm animal welfare activism in Australia

Cited by 23 publications

References 50 publications

“I Feel Sorry for Them”: Australian Meat Consumers’ Perceptions about Sheep and Beef Cattle Transportation

“I Feel Sorry for Them”: Australian Meat Consumers’ Perceptions about Sheep and Beef Cattle Transportation

Going veggie: Identifying and overcoming the social and psychological barriers to veganism

Understanding the Political Challenge of Red and Processed Meat Reduction for Healthy and Sustainable Food Systems: A Narrative Review of the Literature

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